Tooth brush holder



y 7, 1933. s. .1. s. STANTON 2,117,459

TOOTH BRUSH HOLDER Filed Nov. 9, 1936 Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention brings a new tooth brush holder into the market for use in the modern sanitary bathroom. The general controlling characteristic of this holder is the accommodation compactly, sanitarily and inconspicuously, of a comparatively large number of tooth brushes.

Dental hygienists today urge each person to have at least two tooth brushes for his daily use-each brush of a different styleto assure thorough and wide dental cleansing, as it takes many hours for a brush to dry, and brush heads of different contour to reach different parts of the gums and all the recesses and surfaces of the teeth.

It can readily be seen that such scientific care of teeth requires wider accommodations for tooth brushes. Where a family of four ordinarily uses four brushes, under this new prophylactic plan it requires at least eight or ten of them. The most common holders today are holders attached on a wall somewhere near the medicine cabinet. These holders are quite conspicuous when bur dened with four or six tooth brushes. They become impossible when enlarged to carry eight or ten. The holder which can carry eight or ten or more brushes amply and inconspicuously is therefore a great convenience and an indispensable modern bathroom appurtenance.

The following brief descriptions with numerical references to the accompanying drawing which is made a part of this specification will help to convey an idea of this invention:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the brush holder.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a modified form of holder-a form with two-level sections.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fi 3.

Referring to the figures:

Numeral ID in Figure 1 points to the holder as a whole. As here shown, it is a rectangular block of two sections having apertures l6 bored vertically through the top section II.

The bottom section of the holder is indicated by numerals l2 and I3, which is held in space relationship with the top section by the interconnecting elements l4 and I5, which are in the form of two end walls respectively. The tooth brushes are vertically receivable in the apertures as shown by the dotted forms of brushes 22, ends of the handles resting on the stepped levels l1, l8 and I9. of the bottom section, and within the air space between the upper and lower sections.

The upper section is sufficient in thickness to keep the tooth brushes steadied in a vertical position. The space between the two sections is sufiicient in extent to afford adequate air circulation for the brush handles.

The holder thus formed is comparatively small in sizesm-all enough to be placed conveniently within the usual bathroom cabinet or on awindow sill, but large enough to hold a sufficient number of tooth brushes for the average modern family, which follows the most approved prophylactic practice of more than one tooth brush for each person-each tooth brush held out of contact with the others, in a position to drain easily, and readily accessible for use.

This holder, Fig. 1, has a cutout 2B in the end walls with a ledge l in the bottom of each cutout, which is provided to accommodate tooth paste tubes. In modern dental care, the tooth brush and the tooth paste tube form an inseparable combination in service at least once a day. They are interdep'endable for the man who uses tooth paste for this tooth brush in cleaning teeth.

The combination is greatly facilitated, and is subject to least disruption, when these two complementary elements rest in the same holder and are available with equal promptness and certainty as they are in the present uniquely designed holder. Such an accommodation over a period of years will save many a man invaluable hours of time and will preclude in many cases the annoyance of looking for the tooth paste tube, as is the case where the tube has no definite place or where the mechanical relationship between the tooth brush and the tube has not been recognized.

In Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, numeral 50 points to a rotating circular holder with stepped levelsstepped levels 5| and 52 for the upper section 53, the receiving section, and stepped levels for the lower section 54. The upper section is in rotating relationship to the lower section, the same as in Fig. 3. The parts of the interconnecting element comprising a stub shaft 58, a washer 59, a screw 60, and an enlarged portion 61 on shaft 58, forming a support for the upper section. The shaft 58 is accommodated in a hole 62 in the lower section and a hole 63 in the upper section.

The apertures through the upper section to receive the tooth brushes are indicated by the numerals 56, while the cutout for the tooth paste tube is embodied in the stepped level as indicated by the numeral 51, having the ledge for the tube to rest on indicated by numeral 3.

This model affords the advantage of rotation,

as well as presenting the tooth brushes in two different levels.

The aperture I6, limited in height affords complete exposure of bristles, and is arranged to guide the brush handle end downward to a base l1, l8, 19, for quick water drainage. The base provided with ample air spaces, between the top H and the base I2l3 affords quick drying for the brush handle ends, just as the exposure of the bristles over the tops makes it possible in each case for the bristles to dry quickly in the surrounding air.

The models shown in the accompanying drawing are made of wood. The holder lends itself, however, to production in a variety of materialsmetal, glass, marble, composition materials, etc.

My invention herein is susceptible to various changes and expansion. The details shown are for purposes of disclosure and not as limitations. The right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of this application and the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As a new object of manufacture, a tooth brush holder comprising an upper and a lower section, with an air space between them, the upper section provided with apertures vertically through it for the accommodation of tooth brushes, bristle heads up, the lower section separated by the said air space from the upper section forming a rest platform for the tooth brush handles, ends down, when vertically accommodated through the said apertures, at least one of the said sections having stepped levels, the two sections held fixedly together as a unit by at least one interconnecting element forming a part of the unit constituting said tooth brush holder.

2. As a new object of manufacture, a combination tooth brush and tooth paste tube holder comprising an upper and a lower section, with an air space between them, said upper section in its body provided with apertures vertically through it for the accommodation of tooth brushes, bristle heads up, and said lower section separated by the said air space from the upper section forming a rest platform for the tooth brush handles, ends down, at least one of the sections having stepped levels, the two sections combined into a unit by at least one interconnecting element between them, the apertured section thereof mounted rotatably in relation to the rest platform thereof, said rest platform forming the base of the unit constituting the said tooth brush holder.

S. J. S. STANTON. 

